Monarda: planting and care in the open field, description of varieties, preparation for winter, cultivation

Monarda is one of the most attractive plants belonging to the Lamiaceae family. Its main feature is that it can grow on all continents of the world, as it has excellent resistance to different temperature indicators. Before you start growing monarda, it is recommended to study planting and care in the open field, species diversity and methods of crop propagation.

Description and characteristics of the monarda

A well-known specialist, the father of botany, Carl Linnaeus, for the first time described the plant in detail and conducted experiments with its participation.He subsequently named it after his good friend, the Spanish botanist Nicolás Monardes. Nicholas himself called it Canadian oregano. Centuries later, the culture received another name - lemon mint.

Monarda is an ornamental plant, it can be both an annual and a perennial, which is cultivated in open ground. The height of the culture can exceed 1.5 m. The leaves have a pleasant smell, an oblong shape with pointed edges. The buds are collected in an inflorescence, forming a brush of the correct shape. The color of plants is very diverse. The fruit is in the form of a small nut, which contains many seeds, which are characterized by high germination, which lasts for 3 years.

The plant does not require frequent transplants, it can grow in one place for 7 years.

Gardeners and landscape designers choose monarda for its attractiveness and presentability, as well as for its pleasant aroma that can spread over long distances. In addition, the culture is popular in cooking, it is added to dishes as a spice, tea is brewed.

Valuable properties of a flower

Monarda belongs to the number of medicinal plants and is actively used in the medical industry due to the large number of useful properties that can cure:

inflammatory processes in the oral cavity, eyes;
eating disorders;
abscesses;
gynecological ailments;
fungal diseases of the feet;
pneumonia;
tuberculosis;
anemia;
chronic fatigue syndrome.

The plant is widely used in cosmetology because of its ability to slow down the aging process, accelerate the regeneration of epidermal cells. One of the main ingredients of masks, creams and tonics. Monarda-based oil is used in a massage session.

Cultural varieties

There are a large number of varieties of monarda. Usually, experts divide them depending on the duration of the life period, namely: annual, perennial.

Annuals

Monarda boasts many annual varieties, including these.

Citrus Monarda or Lemon

An annual plant with branched straight shoots capable of growing up to 150 cm in height. Monarda has lanceolate leaf blades with a serrated edge. Two-lipped flowers are painted in different colors: purple, light yellow, white, red. The flower is valued for its lemony aroma, thanks to which its inflorescences are added to tea and used as a spice. The fruit is a nut.

Hybrid Monarda Lambada

This variety is considered an excellent honey plant and is actively used as an ornamental crop.Monarda hybrid is bred artificially, so it does not occur in the wild. For the first time it was received by breeders in the Netherlands. Its main feature is the strong lemony tart aroma of the leaves and stems of the perennial. Has a similarity in appearance with lemon monarda.

Point monarda

The second name of the plant is horse mint. The height of the monard reaches a maximum of 80 cm. It is actively cultivated not only because of the exquisite fragrant flowers that form elongated spikes at the end of the stem, but also because of the bright salmon-colored leaves surrounding the inflorescences. It happens that such leaves overshadow the buds with their impressive size. The duration of flowering is about 50 days.

Perennial

The most common perennial species of monarda include the following.

Double Monarda Monarda didyma

Perennial plant, reaching 1 meter.Monarda grows in the meadows of the great lakes, has a powerful root system, a strong stem and opposite leaves located on it. The length of the leaf is 12 cm, the edge is pointed at the top, has a jagged border, is painted green, and the stipules are distinguished by a red-red tint. Monarda blooms in lilac-violet color, forming a round inflorescence about 5 cm in diameter.

Fistula Monarda fistulosa wild bergamot

The main purpose of growing a tubular monarda is the preparation of spices. The bush itself is of impressive size, reaches 1.2 meters in height, has a fibrous root system. The tops are decorated for a long time with capitate inflorescences up to 5 cm in diameter. Bud petals are white or burgundy.

Hybrid Monarda Monarda x hybrida

Perennial herbaceous plant, sectioned by combining two common species of monarda double and fistulose. Unpretentious culture in care, does not require special growing conditions.The main varieties of hybrid monarda include: Scarlett, Mahagonny, Elsise lavender, Lambada. Each of the varieties differs in color and height of the bush.

Popular varieties

Gardeners identify some of the most popular varieties of Monarda.

Mahogany

Perennial plant with a long root and a height of up to 150 cm. One of the largest flowers among all varieties of monards with a thick and strong stem and dark green leaves of small size. Inflorescences have a raspberry-red hue and a pleasant lemon-mint aroma. The minimum diameter of one inflorescence is 7 cm. Monarda blooms from July and pleases until frost.

Citrodera Harlequin

Compact, low monarda only 30-35 cm in height. The flowers are collected in an inflorescence called a sultan. It has a refined bergamot aroma, presentable appearance. This variety is in great demand among gardeners.

Panorama

Perennial culture with a delicate color of capitate inflorescences crowning the tops of tetrahedral shoots. The height of the central stem can vary from 60-80 cm. The inflorescence reaches a diameter of 6 cm. In autumn, the monarda complements the landscape with its attractive exotic fruit nuts.

Terry Tale

Winter-hardy perennial monarda with a variety of colors of inflorescences, ranging from white to dark wine color. Due to the variety of shades, culture was called the Terry Fairy Tale. Plant height from 60 to 80 cm. Flowers collected in capitate inflorescences are located on the tops of tetrahedral shoots.

Pink Lace

Short monarda up to 40 cm high and 45 cm wide. The flowers form large, lush inflorescences of a pink-raspberry hue. The leaves are dark green and slightly rough. The plant is fragrant, unpretentious and frost-resistant.

Bergamo

The variety is presented in the form of a small bush with jagged leaves of dark green color. The buds are terry, which is why, according to gardeners, they resemble many-legged insects. It grows from the second decade of July until frost. Greenery persists until late autumn. Monarda leaves taste like bergamot and are added to tea.

Supreme

Popular perennial variety due to fragrant split leaves and fragrant colorful flowers. Flowering lasts from July to September, develops well on any soil. Used to decorate house adjoining areas in group plantings.

Diana

Decorative monarda with a pleasant mint-lemon aroma, grows in bushes up to 45 cm in height. It has thin peduncles with 5-7 whorls of attractive flowers of various shades, resembling a chandelier in appearance.Able to bloom for a long time and profusely, it is cold-resistant. The variety is recommended for group and single plantings.

Pink Lace (pink)

Short monarda up to 40 cm in length and a little more in width. It has pink flowers collected in large and lush inflorescences at the top of the shoot. The name comes from the color of the inflorescences. The leaves are dark green in color and have a pleasant smell.

Mona Lisa

Monarda grows wild in North America and Mexico. A fast-growing perennial herbaceous crop, sometimes mistakenly called bergamot due to its pleasant smell and botanical similarity to this plant. Monarda has thin winding stems, on top of which are white, pink or purple inflorescences.

Cambridge scarlet (red)

Hybrid perennial plant with a long horizontal rhizome and erect stems, along which trichomes are abundantly distributed.The height of the stem varies from 80-100 cm. Oppositely located oval-shaped leaves up to 12 cm long, light green in color. Inflorescences 6 cm in diameter develop at the top of the shoot.

Cambridge scarlet

Perennial with an elongated horizontal stem. The height of the shrub is 80-100 cm. Pale green leaves are opposite each other on the shoots.

Jacob Kline

The plant has large flowers of a bright red hue, and bracts - dark purple. The flowering period falls on the first decade of July - the last week of August. The fragrant leaves are used to make tea. The maximum escape height is 120 cm.

Preirinacht

Perennial flower with a tetrahedral stem up to 100-140 cm high. Large purple flowers collected in whorled inflorescences, the diameter of which varies from 6 to 8 cm. They bloom from early July to late August. The ground parts of the plant have a tart lemon-mint smell.

Dancing bird

The culture reaches 1.5 meters in height, has a long rhizome and straight branched shoots. Oval-shaped leaves with a toothy edge. Small flowers due to their abundance form lush inflorescences.

Snow White

A variety with snow-white flowers looks spectacular when planted alone and in combination with other plants. Bush of low growth, compact. All aboveground parts of the flower have a pleasant characteristic aroma.

Flower cultivation technology

Growing flowers from seeds is done in two ways:

sowing in open ground;
using seedlings.

After proper planting and proper care, the plant will develop beautifully, respond with lush growth and lush flowering.

Necessary conditions

The main requirements of a plant when planting include choosing the right place, the presence of optimal illumination, the nutrient composition of the soil, the temperature regime favorable for the culture and the humidity indicator.

Optimal location and lighting

The place is chosen well-lit and without drafts. Tall varieties lose their decorative effect in strong winds.

Planting monarda in dark places is also possible, in which case the duration of its flowering and color saturation will be significantly less than that of representatives growing under direct sunlight.

The place must be chosen in advance and covered with a film so that the earth under it warms up and thaws. The soil needs to be fertilized with manure, peat and mineral fertilizers based on potassium and phosphorus.

Required soil composition

It is recommended to choose a site with neutral or alkaline soil. The main condition for breeding monarda is moist permeable soil.

Temperature conditions

The plant does well in regions with a warm, mild climate.

Desired humidity

Perennial needs a lot of moisture, so watering should be regular and timely, especially during flowering.

How to sow monarda in open ground

When sowing monarda in open ground, it is worth studying the characteristics of the plant and using knowledge in practice.

Timing

If the monarda is planted immediately in open ground, then the optimal time for sowing seeds is April. The seedling method is carried out earlier, namely in February or March, since the temperature in the greenhouse can be adjusted.

Spring

If the monarda is grown in the south, then its seeds can be sown directly into the ground, in March, choosing a sunny, warm day. Cool weather will encourage natural seed stratification. Shoots will appear in April, which will need to be thinned out.

Before winter

Planting for the winter is not recommended, because due to severe frosts, the monard may not take root and die. Although many practice sowing in the fall at the end of October, when there is no risk of germination of the material in warm weather. Prepare the bed in advance, then make grooves, keeping a distance of 25 cm. Sow should be to a depth of 2.5 cm. To get beautiful and strong seedlings, pick in the spring.

Sowing technology

Sowing monarda seeds is an occupation for hardworking gardeners, since the germination of planting material is quite low and sometimes the seeds do not retain maternal properties.

Please note that flowers germinate very slowly when sown in autumn.

For planting, choose the right day, namely dry and sunny. The depth of the holes should not exceed 2.5 cm, cover the surface of the excavated beds with sand. Moisten the flower bed after planting. When the first shoots are seen, thin out the beds, removing the weakest specimens and weeds. Flowering with proper care will be only next year.

The nuances of growing a plant from seeds for seedlings at home

Planting seeds for seedlings at home is performed in the following algorithm:

Plant seeds in separate containers filled with loose substrate, it is advisable to buy soil specially designed for this purpose in a flower shop.
Deepen the seeds by at least 2 cm.
Cover the top of the container with a plastic bag or just put the containers in the greenhouse.
Germination will not take long and will begin on the 20th day after planting. When the seedlings have 4 true leaves, pick and plant each specimen in a separate container.

It is worth noting that the monarda develops quite slowly, but after the plant gets stronger, growth will continue more intensively.

We organize competent care of the monarda

If the planting was carried out in accordance with all the norms, then the perennial will be able to develop quickly and efficiently in the future without any violations. The growth and development of the flower in the future will depend on the correctness and regularity of caring for the crop.

Irrigation

In autumn and spring, the monarda does not need a large amount of moisture, but in summer it should be watered more often. In extreme heat and in the absence of rain, watering is recommended to be carried out daily.Moisture deficiency makes the plant vulnerable to a disease such as powdery mildew, which is very difficult to cope even with an experienced gardener.

Feeding

Like any other flowering plant, Monarda needs timely feeding. During the growing season, fertilizing should be carried out at least 2 times a month. In the spring, apply mineral fertilizers in 2 approaches, 1 time in 2 weeks. At the end of summer, give preference to potassium-phosphorus fertilizers, as they have a positive effect on the formation of flowers and strengthen the root system. Potassium will help the monarda prepare for the cold.

Foliar top dressing is also recommended. For this, a mineral composition diluted in a weak concentration is used. In case of prolonged drought, use the Epin stimulant solution.

Mulching and loosening the soil

Mulching and loosening the beds are necessary so that after watering the soil retains moisture longer.For mulching, use humus or peat. These substances are able to protect the soil from water evaporation and soak the substrate. It is not recommended to use sawdust, needles, as they strongly acidify the soil and make the growing conditions of the perennial extreme. Loosening will enrich the soil with oxygen, improve gas exchange and plant photosynthesis in it.

Should the flower be trimmed

The time of pruning, as well as its necessity, is determined depending on the monarda variety. In most cases, you still can't do without it. Trim the buds in the fall when they start to dry out.

Possible diseases and pests: control and prevention

Monarda is a fairly resistant plant, but it still needs prevention. To avoid damage to the culture by the fungus, you need to draw up a watering schedule. This will help the monarda forget about powdery mildew forever.

Also, the perennial can pick up tobacco mosaic, rust and weevil. For prevention, competently care for the plant and choose a place of growth in advance.

Preparing for winter

Wintering usually passes without complications. To prepare the plant for this period, you need to cut the crop, mulch, cover the roots with spruce branches, lightly sprinkling with earth.

The perennial is resistant to frost, it does not need shelter for the winter, as it can withstand temperatures as low as -25 degrees.

Transfer

In one place, the monard can last about 4 years. After it needs to be transplanted to a new place of growth. When transplanting, it is worth dividing the bush.

Methods of reproduction

Monarda reproduces both generatively and vegetatively. The method of dividing the bush or cuttings is more often used, since the percentage of seed germination is not at a high level, unlike other methods.

Dividing the bush

The division of the bush is carried out after the perennial monard is three years old. The procedure is carried out 2 times a year:

mid-spring, when the soil warms up properly;
beginning of autumn, when the earth has not yet had time to freeze.

First you need to carefully remove the roots from the soil and divide them into several parts. Send new monarda bushes to the flower bed to the same depth. The division can be done in two years, when the bush grows strongly.

Cutting

To implement this method, select at least 7 cuttings of monarda 0.1 m in size. It is better to use shoots from a large bush that has already grown quite strongly, but has not reached the flowering stage.

Cut off all the leaves on the bottom of the handle, trim the top a little.Plant the prepared material in a spacious box filled with a substrate and fertilize with minerals. Also, cuttings can simply be placed in a container filled with water. After 3 weeks, you can see that the root system has already formed. During this period, the plant should be moved to open ground.

Seeds

Monarda seed collection begins at the end of September or August, each variety has its own ripening time. You should not allow self-seeding, you need to collect seed boxes in time.

Not every plant, especially a hybrid one, has the ability to pollinate. Seeds are planted in special containers. The optimum temperature for seedling germination is 20 degrees. Growth is quite slow and may be delayed, but in the future it will accelerate significantly. After the onset of phase 4 of true leaves, pick. When the Monarda seedlings are strong enough, they can be transplanted into open ground.The main disadvantage of this method is that the monarda does not bloom even in the second year of development.

Monarda is an ornamental plant that is popular among gardeners due to its attractiveness and unpretentiousness. Even a beginner can cope with the planting and care of this exquisite flower, but first he should learn the rules for planting and caring for a perennial.